Asian shares rise after Fed rate cut, China NPC meeting takes centre stage

Reuters

Asian shares rise after Fed rate cut, China NPC meeting takes centre stage

8 نوفمبر 2024 الساعة 21:7 صباحاً بتوقيت GMT

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Singapore stocks rise 1.8%

Asian currencies mixed

Philippine stocks heading for third consecutive day of declines

Updates at 0643 GMT

By John Biju and Adwitiya Srivastava

Nov 8 (Reuters) -Most Asian equities advanced on Friday after the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a widely expected rate cut in a volatile week that saw Donald Trump returning to the White House, with focus now on further stimulus measures from China.

China's week-long National People's Congress Standing Committee meeting concludes later in the day with investors expecting further stimulus measures which could provide support for regional markets.

More stimulus will support emerging market stocks and currencies such that it is fair to call the worst for emerging market assets is over, Poon Panichpibool, a markets strategist at Krung Thai Bank, said.

"But it remains to be seen how big the upsides would be for EM assets amid Trump 2.0."

Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election has stoked fears that his threat to impose tariffs, especially those on China, would impact most emerging market economies which rely on China as their top trading partner.

Of particular concern for the Philippines, where remittances support a significant portion of growth, is vice presidential candidate JD Vance's proposal for a 10% tax on remittances.

The Philippine peso PHP= declined 0.3%, while equities .PSI retreated 0.4% heading for a third straight day of declines. Shares were on track for the worst week since mid-June.

Most other emerging market equities advanced during the day and for the week, brushing off a fall during the U.S. election, after the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a rate cut on Thursday.

The Fed signalled a cautious and patient approach to subsequent easing, although analysts still widely believe another rate cut is still on the table in December.

"If the Fed continues to cut rates.... I would expect the EM FXs to regain some strength with some weakness in the U.S. dollar. In this scenario, EM stocks could gain some ground as well," Panichpibool said.

Shares in Indonesia .JKSE jumped 0.9%, while those in Taiwan .TWII climbed 0.6%. Taiwan shares were on track for their best week since mid August.

Stocks in Singapore .STI advanced 1.8% to hit their highest level since November 2007, led by gains in the city-state's top banks following upbeat results.

Shares of the OCBC OCBC.SI, UOB UOBH.SI and DBS DBSM.SI all hit record highs.

Currencies in the region were mixed with the Indonesian rupiah IDR= and the Malaysian ringgit MYR= climbing 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively while the Thai baht THB=TH retreated 0.4%.

HIGHLIGHTS:

** China October bank lending seen declining despite policy measures

** Thailand to pursue new policies to boost and protect digital economy

** With Trump win, India open to freeing up market access for U.S. firms, sources say

Asian stocks and currencies as at 0643 GMT
COUNTRY	FX RIC	FX DAILY %	FX YTD %	INDEX	STOCKS DAILY %	STOCKS YTD %
Japan	JPY=	+0.13	-7.64	.N225	0.24%	18.59%
China	CNY=CFXS	-0.05	-0.72	.SSEC	-0.58	15.99
India	INR=IN	+0.00	-1.38	.NSEI	-0.35	10.96
Indonesia	IDR=	+0.25	-1.88	.JKSE	0.94	0.53
Malaysia	MYR=	+0.41	+4.75	.KLSE	0.10	11.71
Philippines	PHP=	-0.31	-5.09	.PSI	-0.43	8.29
S.Korea	KRW=KFTC	-0.03	-7.10	.KS11	-0.14	-3.55
Singapore	SGD=	-0.13	-0.20	.STI	1.80	15.41
Taiwan	TWD=TP	+0.35	-4.33	.TWII	0.62	31.36
Thailand	THB=TH	-0.38	+0.31	.SETI	-0.65	3.13